So, here's the dream

[holly_evolving]

My own store. Someplace where I can sell geeky stuff. Being my own boss.

That's it, really. And I'm sure that when I start, I will have to work open to close by myself, but I'm ready for that. Maybe it'll fail. Maybe it won't.

But I have to try. I will not go through my life without having tried to do this one thing that I've always wanted to do.

The plan is to open in 2011...which is hopefully enough time, since right now I don't even have startup money, let alone a space. Or vendors. Or anything but this dream.

Comments

[thegreyeminence.livejournal.com]

If you can find it, read The Specialty Retailer's Handbook by Dave Wallace. He's the owner of The Fantasy Shop, a chain of 5 game and comic stores in the Great Lakes area. He's done a lot of con seminars on starting your own store (“Are you crazy? If so, continue…”), and he published that book to help fellow geeks avoid the pitfalls that will kill you in under a year.

Note that his goal for the reader is to build up enough business volume that you can plan your retirement. That realistically means a chain of clean, well-lit, doesn't-scare-the-public shops, not the usual geek dream of “a place all my friends can hang out”.

I have no idea how to find a copy of this book now, but maybe it's still for sale on his store's web site. I had a pre-publication draft (with a different working title) that he handed out at a con, but I think I gave it to JPV back when he and Dale were talking about starting a comic book shop. I can't find it now.

[holly-evolving.livejournal.com]

Thank you, that's EXACTLY what I'm looking for!